COUGARS

It doesn't matter which defense Washington State plays. Even without Ty Abbott and Rihards Kuksiks, Arizona State is picking it apart. The Sun Devils have taken 18 3-pointers and made seven. They've taken nine shots inside the arc and made seven. They've taken five free throws, where there is no defense, and made all of them. It all adds up to 40 first-half points. Highest-scoring first half of the Pac-10 season for the Devils and second-highest (45 against Tulsa) of the year. The Cougars scored 41 in the first half in Pullman. ... If they don't take care of the ball and don't start defending better, they will be the team that no one wanted to be, the one that lost to ASU, snapping the Devils' long conference losing streak (11 right now). ... Though WSU is still shooting 44 percent from the floor – it was over 50 percent much of the half – Reggie Moore (10 points) and Klay Thompson (4) are 5 of 15 combined. Meanwhile DeAngelo Casto, who had 25 in Pullman, has four points and four turnovers, though he does have five of WSU's 14 rebounds. ... Trent Lockett is one guy WSU hasn't been able to control, driving, running, attacking for five shots, hitting four and scoring nine points. ... With Faisal Aden in Pullman, Will DiIorio played 8 minutes, had two rebounds, picked up a charge and had two tips that didn't go. ... That's it for now.

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